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The Johan Sverdrup Oil Field development has been given the green light and major contracts have been awarded. Johan Sverdrup is among the largest oil fields on the Norwegian shelf, and will at peak contribute with 25% of the production from the Norwegian shelf.

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Introduction

Brunei is one of the highest per capita income countries in the Asia and the Pacific region owing mainly to its significant natural gas and oil resources. Brunei is currently Asia's third largest oil and gas producer.

The revenue of the natural gas and oil sector accounts for about 70% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Recently, the output of natural gas and oil decreased, which reflected the maturity of the country’s oilfields

According to the BP statistical review, Brunei has 1.1 Billion barrels of oil reserves and 10.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves as of 2010. In the same year oil production was 172,000 bpd and 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas

History

1899 - The first recorded well drilled close to Brunei town

1929 - The first commercial find was made at Seria

1972 - The Brunei LNG plant began its operation

1991 - The Seria field produced its billionth barrel

2002 - Brunei National Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd is incorporated

Regulation

The Government of Brunei’s Petroleum unit oversees the development of the natural gas and oil sector. Brunei national Petroleum Co. Sdn. Bhd. (PetroleumBrunei) (a limited-liability company that was wholly owned by the Government) looks after the country’s commercial interests in the oil and gas sector.

Upstream

According to the BP statistical review, Brunei has 1.1 Billion barrels of oil reserves and 10.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves as of 2010. In the same year oil production was 172,000 bpd and 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas

The most prolific offshore field is Champion Oil Field, which is in 30 metres of water, about 70 kilometres northeast of Seria. It holds 40 percent of the country’s known reserves and produces around 100,000 barrels a day. The field already has more than 260 wells drilled from 40 platforms. A central field complex, Champion-7, has living quarters for about 160 personnel, gaslift and compression facilities and water injection facilities.

The oldest field offshore is South West Ampa Gas Field, 13 kilomtres off Kuala Belait. Its reservoirs hold more than half of Brunei Darussalam’s total gas reserves and gas production and accounts for 60 per cent of the company’s total production. Gas from its 56 gas wells is piped 39 kilometres to the Brunei LNG plant in Lumut. South West Ampa also has substantial oil reserves with 164 oil producing wells.

The other major offshore filed is Magpie Oil Field, 60 kilometres north-east of Seria, which has been producing since 1977. Production is now maintained at some 6,000 barrels a day from its 32 wells, drilled from three platforms.

BSP also has a share of production from the Fairley-Baram field, which straddles the border with Sarawak.

In January 1992, BSP’s seventh field came on stream at Iron Duke Oil Field, 13 kilometres south-west of Champion. It was the first new field to start production since Gannet in 1988. Production is from three wells hooked up to Champion via the company’s multiphase pipeline.

Onshore, the Seria Oil Field was Brunei Darussalam’s major producer until the 1970s. Today it still contributes some 28,000 barrels per day from a coastal corridor 13 kilometres long by 2.5 kilometres wide and in 1991 produced its billionth barrel, commemorated by a monument near the site of the first well.

The other onshore field is Rasau, west of the Belait River.

Active Companies

The Brunei National Petroleum Company, Brunei Shell Petroleum Co and Total are the main players in Brunei

Kulczyk Oil owns a 40% working interest in Brunei Block L, and a 36% working interest in Brunei Block M